Blackpeak Station Page 21

  More door-slamming echoed down the hall. Charlotte sighed. ‘I guess I’d better go and apologise. I have to face up to Jen sometime.’

  ‘And spoil such a lovely afternoon?’

  She smiled. ‘What’s your plan? We hide in here all day?’

  ‘No …’ Leading her to the front window, he slid up the sash and climbed out. ‘We escape.’

  She giggled. So much for being a big boy. ‘Are you scared of Jen?’

  ‘Not even slightly.’ Luke gave her a withering glare. ‘I just bore easily. You coming?’

  Charlotte leaned back on her elbows in the grass and turned up her face to the autumn sun. There was a whirring noise beside her ear. She opened her eyes in time to see Luke take another photo on his phone.

  ‘This really is a lovely spot.’ He got to his feet and turned round, framing Mount Pickford and the glacier, then made a slow three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn. ‘I told my parents I’d send them some pictures next time I was down.’

  His parents? Something else she hadn’t thought of.

  Glancing down at her face, Luke laughed. ‘Yes, I do have parents, you know. What, did you think I’d just hatched?’

  Not exactly … more appeared in a puff of sulphur one day, clutching a tiny pitchfork. She sat up. ‘So do I get to meet them sometime?’

  ‘Well, I haven’t actually checked, you understand, but I’m pretty sure they’ll come to the wedding.’

  She rolled her eyes.

  ‘Sure.’ Sitting down again, he pulled her across his lap. ‘Any time you want. They’re dying to meet you.’

  ‘Well …’ Charlotte thought. ‘I could probably get away the weekend after next.’

  There was a moment’s pause. ‘What happened to this place falling apart without you?’

  She smiled. ‘Well, it would at some times of year. But we don’t have that much on at moment. I can take a few days off here and there.’

  ‘That’s very good news.’ He stroked the hollow of her throat. ‘But it’d have to be more than a few days, I’m afraid. Mum and Dad are in Italy at the moment.’

  Of course they were. ‘When do they get back?’

  ‘Oh, late spring, usually.’ Luke played with the end of her ponytail. ‘Unless, of course, there’s some reason for them to come back before then.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘Tell me’ — he brushed the ponytail up and down her throat — ‘about your ideal wedding.’

  Oh dear. Nothing like his, she was pretty sure. She’d been having second thoughts about the church — the big dress, all those people staring. It just wasn’t her. ‘Well,’ she began tentatively, ‘it’d be small … just family and really close friends … and nothing too formal. Maybe in a nice garden or something, somewhere?’

  ‘Maybe here?’

  Here? No way! That would be amazing … but Luke couldn’t want that, could he? She’d been sure he’d want something posh and huge in Christchurch. She tried to see his face.

  ‘How about May 15th?’ he grinned. ‘I’m free.’

  Sitting up, Charlotte frowned. ‘But that’s only a month away!’

  ‘It’s that or wait until next summer.’ Taking her shoulders, he pushed her back down. ‘I don’t want to wait. Let’s just do this — now. As soon as we can.’

  His eyes searched hers. There it was, that naked look she loved. The one that was only for her. Would she ever be able to say no to this man? Not this time, at least. Gazing up at him, she knew beyond doubt that she didn’t want to wait another day to marry him, either.

  Luke smiled. ‘I almost forgot.’ He reached into his pocket. ‘Give me your hand.’ As Charlotte watched, he slid the most beautiful diamond she had ever seen onto her finger.

  ‘Oh!’ Kath pressed her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, Charlie, it’s so lovely … and it matches your bracelet, too.’

  Wow. So it did. Luke really did think of everything … Sliding the bracelet up her wrist, she examined them together.

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake.’ Jen peered over her shoulder. ‘When’s the tiara coming?’

  Charlotte sighed heavily. She was beginning to see Luke’s point — this was getting old.

  ‘I think I’ll just go and pick some carrots.’ Tactfully, Kath withdrew.

  Jen leaned against the kitchen bench. ‘You’re not seriously going to go through with this, are you?’

  ‘Look, let’s just drop it, eh?’

  ‘I can’t just “drop it” — I’m supposed to be your friend.’

  ‘Yeah?’ Charlotte’s patience snapped. ‘Well, you’re doing a pretty crap job of it at the moment.’

  ‘I’m trying to help.’

  ‘Thanks — but I don’t remember asking for your help. Just leave it alone. I know what I’m doing.’

  ‘Clearly you don’t,’ spat Jen, ‘or you wouldn’t be doing it.’

  ‘What, marrying the guy I’m in love with? Who loves me? Jesus!’

  ‘You don’t love that guy. It’s crazy. You can’t. You’re just on the rebound from—’

  ‘I do love Luke! I’ve never felt this way about anybody. Anybody, okay? I’m sorry that doesn’t suit you, and I know I’m supposed to clear these things with you first, but hey, not everyone wants to spend their lives sitting round being bitter over things that aren’t going to happen. Some of us move on.’

  ‘Fuck you, Charlie.’ Jen straightened. ‘Maybe it’s time I moved on.’

  Shit. Charlotte swore under her breath as Jen left the room.

  ‘Everything okay, dear?’ Tentatively, Kath walked back in, carrots in hand.

  She shook her head. She was so angry she could cry. She was happy, God damn it. Of course she was. Why did Jen have to try and ruin it? Because she was jealous, that was why. Because she didn’t know how good it felt to be swept off your feet. To be so in love you didn’t have time to think about it. Hell, maybe Jen should leave. Maybe she didn’t want her here, poisoning things with Luke. But she felt a sudden pang at the thought of Blackpeak without her.

  Kath put the carrots in the sink. ‘She means well.’ Turning back, she patted Charlotte’s shoulder. ‘Try not to let her upset you. It’s your life, you know.’

  That’s right — it was.

  Kath put the jug on.

  Charlotte took a few deep breaths. ‘I know I haven’t known Luke that long — but sometimes you just … it’s fireworks, you know? I mean, that’s what falling in love is all about, isn’t it?’

  ‘Sometimes — yes, it is, dear.’

  ‘Some people wait their whole lives for something like this to happen to them.’

  ‘Yes,’ Kath sighed, ‘they do.’

  ‘I don’t understand why she has to be such a — why she has to give Luke such a hard time. God, he’s giving up pretty much his whole life to try and work from home down here and be with me — what more does she want?’

  ‘It’s going to be a big change for him, all right.’

  Charlotte looked up. What did that mean, exactly? ‘Do you think we’re making a mistake as well?’

  Kath smiled gently. ‘It shouldn’t matter what I think, dear. It’s what you think that counts.’

  She was going to spend every day of her life with the most exciting man she’d ever met, that’s what she thought. Maybe it wasn’t safe. But it sure as hell wouldn’t be boring.

  ‘I think you should get a pre-nup,’ announced Nick, before Charlotte had said much more than hello.

  Removing the phone from her ear, she stared at it for a second — seriously? Someone had been watching too much American TV. Just as well she’d waited until Luke went back to work before she called.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous — Luke’s parents have got more money than God. All I’ve got is a huge hunk of debt. If anyone needs a pre-nup, it’s him.’

  Nick sighed. ‘They’re property developers, right?’

  ‘Yeah, so?’

  ‘So, do you ever read more than the weather report? The market’s hardly booming righ
t now.’

  Christ, she couldn’t believe she was even having this conversation. ‘Honestly — you should see Luke’s house. It’s probably worth more than half of this place.’

  ‘Well, if he’s got so much dosh, he won’t care about signing, will he?’ Nick’s voice softened. ‘Look, it’s no big deal — everybody does it these days.’

  Ah! Like the Sammartinos?

  ‘Flavia thinks it’s a good idea, too. For all of us, yeah? We just need to protect our investment.’

  Charlotte bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t give a rat’s arse what Flavia thought.

  ‘Just ask your lawyer to draw something up, okay?’

  Yeah. Like that was going to happen. ‘Anyway, I was calling to tell you the wedding’s on May 15th,’ she said curtly.

  There was a silence. ‘You don’t mean this year?’

  ‘Yes, this year.’ She counted to ten. ‘Are you coming or not?’

  ‘Christ, Charles. I think I’d better — if it’s not too late to get a ticket.’

  A minute after she’d put it down, the phone rang again.

  ‘Don’t be cross with us, cara,’ Flavia soothed. ‘Your brother, he is very grumpy sometimes, but of course we will come. Now! You and I, we must talk all about the dress!’

  Chapter EIGHTEEN

  The sun was just climbing over the hills as Charlotte drove down to collect the mail. As the Hilux’s tyres crunched over the gravel, a rabbit, caught warming itself in a patch of sun, startled and broke for cover.

  Pulling up beside the box at the end of the drive, Charlotte seized the mail bag and emptied its contents onto the seat beside her. She refilled the bag with outgoing mail, loaded the two bales of fencing wire she’d ordered onto the flatdeck, stretched and surveyed the empty highway. Luke would be down tonight.

  A hawk rose lazily from a fence post and settled back on the dead hare from which it had been distracted. Its wings and the low chug of the ute’s motor were the only sounds to break the valley’s stillness. Charlotte raised the flag on the mailbox, swung into the cab and headed for home. It was too nice a day to spend in the office — but that’s what she’d said yesterday, and now the GST really had to be done.

  If this weather would just hold for two more weeks … she smiled at herself. Usually, about now, she’d be praying for rain. But she was really hoping they wouldn’t have to use the marquee her mother had booked ‘just in case’ they needed to shift their plans to the homestead’s lawn.

  She pulled a face — Andrea was also due to arrive this afternoon, armed to the teeth no doubt with hire catalogues and seating plans. Not that she didn’t want her mother’s help — she was counting on it, but God, it was exhausting. And of course, it did put rather a damper on anything else she and Luke might have planned for the evening. Like the billiard room, for instance. Then again … in another fortnight, they’d have the house to themselves every night … Bouncing into a pothole, she swore and turned her attention to the road.

  Back at home, Charlotte made herself a cup of tea and carried it through to her desk. She fired up the computer. Two new messages. ‘No subject’ from Luke and a forward from Nick, ‘proposed design’, with an attachment — ooh, that would be the wedding dress sketches Flavia had promised. She couldn’t wait to see them … She clicked on the email from Luke.

  Meeting cancelled — leaving now. See you soon.

  Perfect! With a bit of luck, he’d be home an hour or so before her mother got here … not billiard room sort of time, maybe, but time enough to — Oh, this was no good. She shook herself. Wedding dresses. Right. Then the GST.

  She opened Nick’s email.

  Charles — what the fuck? Flavia says you knew about this. Is that true?

  Ugh … God, what was he on about now? She clicked on the attachment. Holy fuck. Charlotte scrolled down. No. It couldn’t be! Rocking back, she hugged her stomach. Oh my God, she felt actually — she raced for the bathroom, locked the door and threw up. Sitting back on her heels, she started to cry.

  Four hours later, the unmistakable whirr of the Range Rover’s engine drifted in through the open bedroom window, and Charlotte heard the churn of its wheels on the gravel outside. She sat up and blew her nose.

  ‘There you are.’ Luke walked in, his bag slung over his shoulder. ‘Good.’ Closing the door behind him, he gave her his paint-stripping smile. ‘What time does your mother get here?’

  Charlotte stared at him.

  ‘Hey …’ His grin faded. ‘What’s wrong?’ Dropping his bag, he hurried over and sat on the end of the bed. ‘Has something happened?’ He stroked her leg.

  She shuddered and drew up her knees. ‘These happened.’ Reaching over to her bedside table, she handed him six sheets of A4 paper. ‘Nick sent them to me. I printed them off.’

  She watched Luke’s face as he saw the first page. For half a moment, he froze. Then, slowly, he leafed through them. ‘Is this all?’ He looked up at her. ‘Jesus, I thought someone had died.’

  ‘All?’ Charlotte took the pages back from him. ‘Blackpeak Station Resort,’ she read out. ‘A development like no other … welcome to Asia-Pacific’s new best hotel.’ She paused, looking at him. ‘A Tsang Corporation-Pegasus Project.’

  ‘Hey, it’s no big deal — it’s just a proposal, that’s all.’

  ‘No big deal? You were going to turn my home into a hotel — not even, in fact, because if I read this thing right, you’re actually flogging a fucking timeshare — and you’re telling me it’s not a big deal? It’s not a proposal, it’s a fucking brochure.’

  ‘It’s just a mock-up to show how the marketing could work. Look, I can explain.’

  ‘Don’t fucking touch me!’ She snatched her hand away. ‘This was going to be one of the restaurants, was it? How does it go — “the best pan-Asian cuisine will be served in the historic nineteenth century homestead, with its fine colonial art collection and exquisite antiques”. Oh, and let’s not forget that “guests can enjoy the fine cognac selection in the beautiful wood-panelled billiard room, with its rare books and blazing fire”.’

  ‘The billiard room? Jesus!’ Her voice broke. ‘You know …’ Shaking, she stared at him. ‘I thought that was going to be the worst part.’ She shuffled the pages. ‘And then I got to this: “The Owner’s Pavilion. Set high on Rough Creek Spur, this architectural masterpiece — accessible by quad bike safari from the resort, or directly by helicopter — offers the ultimate corporate retreat …”’ She couldn’t go on.

  ‘Can I say something now?’ Again, Luke reached for her hand — then, seeing her flinch, held his own up in surrender. ‘The ultimate day retreat — that’s what it says. Available only by special arrangement.’

  Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief. He was fucking correcting her now?

  ‘That’s because’ — he sought out her eyes — ‘it’s our house. Yours and mine, up on Rough Creek Spur. What you’ve always wanted.’

  What she wanted? For a moment, she couldn’t speak. ‘You went …’ She took a deep breath. ‘You went behind my back to the Sammartinos.’

  ‘No — look, it was just an idea. I wanted to see if it would fly before I got your hopes up.’

  ‘My hopes?’

  ‘I was going to tell you—’

  ‘When? After we were married? Or when the bulldozers rolled in?’ She stopped. ‘Oh my God.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘That’s it, isn’t it? You were going to tell me after we got married. That’s why you’ve been in such a rush …’ She closed her eyes. Oh God, oh God. It was just too awful. ‘Then if I said no, you could always take half my share in the station anyway. With the Sammartinos on your side, you’d have a controlling interest.’

  ‘That’s not true.’ Luke took her by the shoulders. ‘It isn’t.’ He shook her slightly. ‘Look at me!’

  She couldn’t.

  ‘Hey. I love you. I wouldn’t have done that.’ There was a catch in his voice, too. ‘I didn’t do that.’ />
  ‘But you could.’

  ‘I wouldn’t. I wasn’t going to.’

  ‘I don’t believe you.’

  There was a second’s silence.

  ‘You should.’ His voice was low. His arms slid around her. ‘Baby, you have to.’

  Charlotte was numb. ‘I don’t. I think you’ve been lying to me since the day we met.’

  ‘That’s not true.’

  ‘Everything — all the time you spent here, the phone calls, the pictures, the Skyping in the billiard room … it was all for your project.’

  ‘No. God …’

  ‘That was why I couldn’t meet your parents, wasn’t it? In case they told me?’ She shook her head. ‘Are they even in Italy?’

  ‘My parents are at a villa in Umbria. We can call them if you like.’ Luke held her back at arm’s length. ‘I have been more honest with you’ — again, he tried to look into her face — ‘than I have ever been with anyone in my life.’

  Wow — so this was what it felt like when your heart broke. ‘You know the really sad thing? I think that might be true.’ She slid the ring off her finger.

  ‘No.’ Luke shook his head. ‘Don’t.’

  Breaking away from him, she got up and opened her bedside drawer. ‘You should have this back as well.’ She put the tennis bracelet on the bed between them, next to the ring. ‘Could you go now? Please?’

  ‘You don’t really want that.’

  ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘Over this?’ Picking up the brochure, he ripped it in half. ‘It’s that easy. You don’t want me to pitch this, I won’t. I just thought I could make us some money, that’s all — give you the things you want.’

  Charlotte sighed. ‘Actually, I think maybe that’s the worst part — you really thinking I could want this.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘No. I don’t think you ever will. That’s why you need to go.’ She walked to the door and opened it.